Sunshine Coast to Cairns flights
Cairns lies 1,319 km (819 mi) north-west of Sunshine Coast, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 2 h 26 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Sunshine Coast | Cairns | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Population | 398,840 | 153,075 |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) |
| Nearest large airport | MCY, 7 km out | CNS, 5 km out |
Airports at each end
Leaving Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY), 7 km (4 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,186 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Brisbane International Airport (BNE, 81 km).
Arriving in Cairns
Cairns is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Cairns International Airport (CNS), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, whose 10,489-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns International Airport | CNS | 5 km (3 mi) | 10,489 ft | 10 ft |
Book a flight to Cairns
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Cairns
Live rooms and prices for Cairns are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Cairns
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Cairns from Sunshine Coast?
1,319 km (819 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Sunshine Coast.
How long does it take to get from Sunshine Coast to Cairns by air?
About 2 h 26 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sunshine Coast and Cairns?
No, both are on Australia/Brisbane at the moment.
Which airports are used for Sunshine Coast to Cairns flights?
Typically Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) to Cairns International Airport (CNS).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.